Mark heard the rattle of the door and stood up. Katlyn came through the door first followed by Paul.
Katlyn seen Mark and flew into his arms. Mark wrapped his big arms around her and hugged her tight.
"I was so worried baby girl." Mark murmured against her hair.
He placed small kisses on her forehead and cheeks.
"I'm sorry Mark; I didn't mean to worry you." Katlyn said in a small voice.
Mark caught each side of her face between his big hands and looked in her eyes. She was very upset he could see that. He kissed her gently. He could taste the fact she had been drinking but let it pass for now.
"Go in the bathroom and take ya a hot and I'll order ya something to eat." Mark said.
Katlyn looked at him. God she loved him so much. She didn't want to see the disappointment in his eyes. She pulled away from him and walked into the bathroom and shut the door.
"So what happened tonight?" Mark asked sitting down in the chair opposite Paul.
"Stacey goaded her about having a curfew, and how mean you are, you know same old song and dance with her. I guess it just got to Katlyn tonight. She told Katlyn if she wasn't scared of you to stay late and have a couple of drinks, which obviously she did. I had already left to take Trish home or I would have out a stop to that shit." Paul said.
Mark sighed. He felt for Katlyn's predicament. She was striving for independence and torn between that and him and Stacey had only made the problem worse.
"If you had left how did you find out she had been drinking and still at the bar?" Mark asked.
"I left my wallet there and went back to get it and…" Paul trailed off.
"And what might as well tell me the rest." Mark said.
Paul felt like he was ratting on Katlyn and he didn't like the feeling. But Katlyn had about done something really stupid and he knew he had to tell Mark.
"I walked up right as she was about to drive off." Paul said.
"WHAT!" Mark asked jumping up.
"Calm down Mark, she didn't, I took her keys and brought her home." Paul said.
"That damn little fool, she could have been killed or killed someone else." Mark said trying to control his anger.
"She knows that she just wasn't thinking. Every one makes mistakes Mark." Paul said.
"Yea well that mistake could have cost her life, I could have lost her." Mark said.
Paul seen the fear in Mark's eyes at the thought of losing Katlyn, he really loved that girl.
"I know, but calm down before you talk to her, or you'll scare her to death and she's already scared." Paul said.
"Well maybe she should be. I'm about as mad as I have ever been with her right now." Mark said running his hand through his short hair.
"Order some dinner for her and let her eat, then talk to her. Just cool off some." Paul said getting up.
"Thanks Paul for bringing her home and taking care of her." Mark said.
"It's okay man, she's my friend, I worry to you know." Paul said.
Mark nodded.
"I'll see you two tomorrow." Paul said and turned and left.
Mark paced back and forth a few minutes trying to calm him self and then ordered Katlyn some dinner.
He was a little calmer when Katlyn came out of the bathroom in one of his shirts and her long hair in braids.
"Come here Katy." Mark said.
Katlyn walked over nervously to stand in front of him.
Mark hugged her tight and kissed her forehead.
"Dinner will be here in a few minutes. I want ya to eat and then we need to talk." Mark said.
"Okay." Katlyn said.
Truth was she knew she screwed up, but she was scared Mark was going to blow a fuse.
Mark sat Katlyn on the bed and sat down beside her and just held her. The thought of her being killed or hurt had filled him with fear and he was just happy to hold her in his arms.
Katlyn was glad Mark wasn't yelling at her, but she knew this was far from over. He wasn't going to let this pass of that she was sure.
"Mark I'm really sorry." She said in a whisper.
"I imagine you are baby." Mark said kissing her lips gently.
There was a knock at the door and Mark got up and got her food and brought it to the table.
"Come eat." Mark said.
Katlyn walked over and sat down. He had ordered her grilled chicken breast with rice and vegetables. She sat there and picked at her food to nervous to eat.
"Katy eat and stop picking at yer food ya need something to soak up all that alcohol." Mark said.
Katlyn flushed red, embarrassed at his chastisement and the fact he knew she had been drinking.
Mark looked at her, she looked close to tears.
"Eat honey and if ya feel up to it tonight we really need to talk." Mark said in a gentler tone.
Katlyn nodded and picked up her fork again. She had just as soon take her time she was in no hurry to talk.